Quest to team with Northrop Grumman on special mission Kodiak

Quest Aircraft Company, manufacturer of the Kokiak, will team with Northrop Grumman Corp. to develop the Air Claw special mission demonstrator based on the Kodiak airframe.

“Quest is very excited to more actively pursue the special mission aircraft market,” said Steve Zinda, Quest’s Director of Sales and Marketing. “We see a lot of market potential in the government and military sector for the Air Claw, and are confident the aircraft will be well received. We are especially pleased to have teamed with such a proven integrator as Northrop Grumman to develop a special mission Kodiak for market segments such as aerial intelligence, aerial observation, law enforcement, search and rescue, and aero-medical.”

We believe that once integrated, this platform will be a real game changer for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities for state, civil and international agencies as well as for special operations forces.” said Bob Gamache, Director, Operationally Responsive Systems, Northrop Grumman Technical Services. “This enterprise between two proven companies committed to technical superiority and cost performance will produce a highly capable platform that is very affordable compared to the competition.”

Kodiakss are in service with charter operators, small businesses, personal owners, skydiving operations, U.S. and international governments, and humanitarian organizations. Several Kodiaks on floats have been delivered, including nine to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Kodiak’s aluminum construction combines STOL performance and high useful load, according to officials. Powered by the Pratt & Whitney PT6 turbine engine, it has the ability to land and take off from unimproved surfaces and is capable of working off floats without structural upgrades. The Kodiak can take off in under 1,000 feet at full gross takeoff weight of 7,255 lbs and climb at over 1,300 feet per minute, officials note.